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Zhaire Smith Breaks Foot In Summer Workout; Surgery Likely

By Matthew Conner

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 06: Zhaire Smith #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during a 2018 NBA Summer League game against the Boston Celtics at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 69-63. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 06: Zhaire Smith #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during a 2018 NBA Summer League game against the Boston Celtics at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 69-63. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Former Texas Tech basketball star Zhaire Smith broke his foot during a summer workout Monday putting his status for his rookie season in jeopardy.

The magical story of Zhaire Smith has taken an unfortunate turn.  After being the first Texas Tech basketball player to be a one-and-done entry in the NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie has broken his foot and may require surgery.

The injury occurred as Smith participated in a developmental camp for rookies in Las Vegas.  The event is annually held by former NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich.

Smith reportedly suffered a “Jones Fracture” which is a break in fifth metatarsal bone located just behind the pinky toe.  Because that area of the foot has a small blood supply, recovery is often slower than in other foot fractures, which makes Smith’s status for the start of the NBA season in jeopardy.

According to VeryWellHealth.com, it is common for people to wear  a cast for up to eight weeks following the operation.  Plus, foot injuries with NBA players are treated with caution because of the physical pounding the game takes on players and the possibility of them becoming a recurring issue.

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Smith’s injury must be especially frustrating for Philadelphia fans who have seen injuries take a toll on several recent 76er rookies. In fact, in each of the past six seasons, an injury has cost a Philly rookie significant time. Though it should be noted that some of these players were injured prior to the draft meaning the 76ers were well aware that they would not be ready immediately.

The unfortunate run began when Nerlens Noel missed the entire 2013-14 season with a torn knee ligament suffered in college.  News of a broken foot must certainly terrify Philly fans who saw star Joel Embed miss the first two seasons of his career (2014-15, 2015-16) with a broken foot that took longer than expected to heal.

Two summers ago, No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons suffered his own break to the fifth metatarsal bone and missed the entire 2016-17 season.  He did return in 2017-18 to earn NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

As if all that were not enough, the 76ers saw 2017 No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz miss 68 games with a shoulder injury that also required surgery.  So it is easy to see why Philadelphia fans might be angry about this news.

There has been no time table set for Zhaire Smith’s recovery but there’s reason to fear he could be in for a long ordeal.  This is especially damaging for Smith because he is considered to be more raw than other first-rounders meaning that the development of his skills in offseason workouts and in the early portion of his career is essential.

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The news is also disappointing for Texas Tech fans who were looking forward to seeing one of their own star in the NBA for the first time in over a decade. Here’s hoping that Smith’s recovery is swift and that he returns to the court at full speed.

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